Pneumatic-tire wheel



PNEUMATIC IRE WHEEL F'lled Dec l P.' J. GRIFFIN July 3, 1923.

section.

Patent July 3, 1923.

PATRICK J'. GRIFFIN,

F DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

PNEUMATIC-TIRE WHEEL.

Application led December 1,

To all whomz't may concer/n:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. GRIFFIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dorchester, Boston, in the county of Sufiolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic-Tire Wheels, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention makes provision for enclosing, concealing, and protecting the air-valve which is employed in connection with the inflatable tire-member of a pneumatic-tire wheel.

ln general practice, the air-valve of the inner tube of a pneumatic tire is rigid or inflexible throughout its entire length, and is attached by one end thereof directly to the wall of the inner tube. lt extends inward through holes in the rim and adj ac'ent felloe of the wheel on which such tire is mounted, and projects radially inward toward the centerv of the wheel from the inner side of the said felloe. The inwardly projecting portion of the valve is exposed to injury. accumulates more or less dust or mud, which may enter into its passageway. This construction and arrangement are objectionable for these and various other reasons.

In accordance with my invention I provide in a wheel felloe a chamber of sufficient dimensions to accommodate the air-valve when the latter is bent or turned down into the said chamber, and I connect the airvalve with the pneumatic tube by a flexible connection which permits the valve to be bent over and turned down within the chamber in question. I provide a. movable cover which can be placed in position over the chamber so as to close the latter and retain the air-valve therein, thus enclosing, concealing, and protecting the air-valve, thereguarding vit from injury and preventing from becoming loaded with mud or dust.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings, in which latter,-

Fig. l is a side elevation of a portion of a wheel containing the said embodiment, partly sectional in order that the details of construction may be representedv more clearly.

Fig. 2 shows a portion of the inner tube of Fig.v l, and the air-valve in 'connection therewith, with 'said air-valve in vertical of the said inner surface of the 'rise out of the c 1921. Serial No. 519,260.v

Fig. 3 is a view in plan of certain of the parts of Fig. 1'.

In each of Figs. tire shoe is indicated at l, a portion of an inner tube is indicated at 2, at is a portion of a wheel-rim, and a portion of a wheel-felloe isI indicated at 3. At 4, Fig. l, is a chamber such as I form in the wheelfelloe 3 in laccordance with my invention, and at 5 is a convenient the said chamber. In .this instance, the cover is composed of a plate or strip of metal having one end thereof connected by means of a pivot 5a with the felloe at the inner surface of the latter, adapted to swing, transversely .around the said pivot into a position in over and closes the chamber, or into a position at oneV side of the chamber, thereby uncovering the latter. strlp 1s curved to conform to the concavity elloe. The cover is held in closed position by means of the keeper which projects from the felloe t and preferably is constituted by a screw, so

the swinging extremity of the cover being notched or slotted to fit around the stem of the said screw, below the head of the latter. The screw may be turned to cause its head to clamp the cover against the surface of the se felloe in vorder to hold vthe cover securely in the closed position.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 2, the air-valve 7 is combined with the inner tube lby means of a flexible neck-portion 8 that 90 is formed upon the inner tube and projects therefrom, the said neck-portion having a central passageway 8a. .The air-valve is formed with a reduced end-portion 7a that is entered into the therein by bindingsv 9 consisting of turns of wire or wire rings upon the exterior of the end-portion of the neck. The flexibility of the neck enables it to bend so asto permit the valve to be chamber, as illustrated in Fig. l. `When the air-valve has been turned down in this manner, the placing of the cover in position over the chamber closes the latter and rechamber. When 105 tains th'e valve within the the cover is moved to one side so as to open up the chamber, the elasticity of the flexible neck-portion 8 will cause the valve to amber into an erect position.

3a, Fig. l, V60

form of cover for th'e said cover being 70 which it -fits Y The said plate or neck 8 and made fast e5 turned down into the-10o ln practice the specific construction may vary more or less. t

he invention is adaptable to the wheels and tires of automobiles in general; at the same time, it is especially applicable in connection with those of the lighter makes of cars, such as the Ford, Metz and Dodge. cars.

at is claimed as the invention is,` 1. The combination with aninflatable tire-member having an air-valve flexibly connected therewith, of a Wheel-felloe, having a chamber into which the said air-valve may be depressed, said chamber having an opening at the inner side of the felloe through which said air valve may project inward o the felloe, and means for retaining the valve depressed within the chamber. -2. The combination with an inflatable tire-member having an air-valve flexibly connected therewith, of a wheel-felloe through which said` air-valve projects inward, having a chamber into which the said air-valve may be depressed, and a movable cover for said chamber, by which the depressed air-valve is retained within the latter.

3. rlhe combination with an inflatable tire-member having an air-valve flexibly combined therewith, through which the said valve projects, having a chamber therein into which the valve may be turned down, and a cover for said chamber pivotally connected to said wheelfelloe with capacity to be swung transversely into opened and closed positions respectively, and means for retaining said cover in closed position.

4f. The combination with an inflatable tire-member having an air-valve fiexibly combined therewith, and a wheel-felloe through which the said valve projects, having a chamber therein into which the valve may be turned down, a cover for said chamber pivotally connected to the wheel-felloe with capacity to be swungjr transversely into opened and closed positions respectively, said cover having an open slot in its swinging end, and a retainer pin on the wh'eel- 'elloe positioned to enter the said slot as the cover swings into closed position.

In testimony whereof a-fhx my signature in presence of t'w o witnesses.

PATRICK J. GRIFFIN. Witnesses:

CHAs. F. RANDALL, ELLEN 0. SPRING.

and a wheel-felloek 

